20 Best Appearances in Movies by Sports Figures

The silver screen is home to some of the greatest pieces of film in the history of humankind. Works of art and comedic gold have been showcased for years, and it only gets better when athletes and sports figures add themselves into the mix.

Over the years, numerous sports figures have left their mark in the entertainment industry. Some have played themselves, some have played characters. Some make cameos and some star in the movie.

Here are the 20 best movie appearances by sports figures to this day.

20. Reggie Jackson in the Naked Gun

The Naked Gun is one of my all-time favorite movies, as Leslie Neilsen is a comedic genius. Adding to the already hilarious movie was an appearance by major league outfielder Reggie Jackson.

"Mr. October" makes a brief cameo, where he is mind controlled to kill the Queen of England in the stands of a California Angels game. Hilarity ensued. 

19. Diamond Dallas Page in Ready to Rumble

Ready to Rumble is a cult classic, mostly because it was a pretty shabby movie in general. To this day though, I still laugh as it was a childhood favorite for myself.

Diamond Dallas Page has a steady role in the movie as a villainous character. He does a very good job given the talent he had to work with and his lack of acting experience. 

18. MMA Fighters in King of Queens

Okay, so King of Queens isn't a movie, but it is a hilarious television show. Kevin James, the main character, has connections in the mixed martial arts world.

In one episode, mixed martial artists Dan Henderson, Randy Couture, Quinton Jackson and Frank Trigg made a cameo in a fight scene with James and his co-workers. It was a funny, memorable appearance by the MMA legends.

17. Vader in Boy Meets World

Professional wrestler Vader made a couple appearances in Boy Meets World in his career, making for some memorable moments. Again, I understand that it's not a movie, but it is still worthy of making the list.

Vader adds great humor to the show, as his appearances add hilarity. When a guy his size shows up on the screen, laughs are bound to come forth.

16. Paul Heyman in Rollerball

Rollerball was a horrible movie, but the only redeeming value was the inclusion of Paul Heyman as the commentator of the game. 

Heyman has a distinguished voice and a great business mind. In the movie, his speaking parts were the only reason the movie was watchable.

15. Dan Patrick in Every Cameo He Has

Sports anchor Dan Patrick gets a lot of cameos in Adam Sandler movies, and usually they are among the funniest parts of the movie.

Among his credits are I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and The Longest Yard. Both of those cameos provided comic gold.

14. Lawrence Taylor in Waterboy

Speaking of Adam Sandler movie cameos, Lawrence Taylor's short part in The Waterboy brought us a classic line: "Don't smoke crack!"

Although he had a role in Any Given Sunday, playing himself in The Waterboy was short, sweet and funny.

13. John McEnroe in Mr. Deeds

Behold, another Adam Sandler movie cameo was made by John McEnroe in both Mr. Deeds and Anger Management. He played a demented version of himself (or maybe it was his regular self) in Mr. Deeds, leading to his spot on this list.

McEnroe and Sandler get drunk on camera and the "bad boy of tennis" shows off his hops in light traffic.

12. Michael Jordan in Space Jam

Any guy who talks to invisible characters for a majority of a film deserves some respect. In Space Jam, Michael Jordan stars along side the Looney Toons characters, who obviously aren't real.

For a majority of the film, Jordan talked to a green screen. Considering that, he did a great job.

11. Jared Allen in Jackass 3D

Jackass is known for its outlandish stunts and nonsensical humor. When Jared Allen came to the set of their third theatrical release, hilarity followed. 

Johnny Knoxville, antagonizing the multi-time Pro Bowler, would allow himself to get absolutely wrecked by Allen. Allen is used to laying out 300-lb. offensive lineman, but a sub-200 lb. Knoxville is a lot funnier to lay out.

10. OJ Simpson in the Naked Gun Series

Before OJ Simpson became the scumbag that he is today, he played Nordberg in The Naked Gun series. He was brilliant, as he portrayed an imbecile of a detective throughout the series.

It's a shame Simpson went down the road that brought him to where he is today. He could have really been a solid comedic actor.

9. Dan Marino in Ace Ventura

Dan Marino's appearance in Ace Ventura wasn't all but a couple minutes, but it was hilarious. Marino got kidnapped by an ex-teammate turned "woman," leading to a funny scene with Jim Carey.

Marino did a fantastic job throughout, especially when he gets in an argument with Carey. All in all, it was perfect for the silly movie that Ace Ventura was.

8. John Madden in The Replacements

John Madden plays himself in the football comedy The Replacements. Although not supposed to be intentionally funny, some of Madden's lines were great.

His rant on fat men scoring, accepting congratulations and Nigel Gruff smoking on the field added greatly to the movie. Madden is unintentionally funny a lot, and this movie displayed it.

7. Brett Favre in There's Something About Mary

It wasn't really the performance by Brett Favre in There's Something About Mary that got him on this list, but more the concept of him in the movie that made it great.

His acting was piss poor. Obviously, he is a football player and not an actor, so he gets a pass. Ben Stiller's pronouncing of Favre's last name was simple yet awesome.

6. Kevin Nash in The Longest Yard

I couldn't find the video clip where Kevin Nash was hopped up on estrogen in The Longest Yard, but take my word for it, it was extremely funny.

Nash is known for his tough-guy professional record, but he turned into a wimpy sissy in the movie when his steroids get replaced by estrogen. His girly attitude left audiences laughing. 

5. Mike Tyson in The Hangover

Label me shocked, but I never took Mike Tyson as a Phil Collins fan.

Tyson's inclusion in The Hangover was a plot that only added to the movie. His tiger gets kidnapped by the main characters, leading to him tracking them down and knocking out Alan (Zack Galifianakis).

His singing is God awful, but his cameo is marvelous. 

4. Lance Armstrong in Dodgeball

Lance Armstrong's scrutiny in the media lately over his past may be getting everybody's attention now, but his appearance in Dodgeball had people talking about how funny he was.

His lecture to Vince Vaughan on quitting was deadpan funny. With a straight face and dramatic intention, Armstrong made viewers crack up.

3. Lee Trevino in Happy Gilmore

Golfer Lee Trevino did not have to do or say much to make his appearance in Happy Gilmore memorable and funny.

With his random appearance showing disgust or displeasure, Trevino went from a lesser known golfer to a cult classic.

And just you remember next time you try and outsmart Adam Sandler: Grizzly Adams did have a beard.

2. Cam Neely in Dumb and Dumber

Cam Neely's hockey career was shortened, but that didn't stop him from making an appearance in Dumb and Dumber. Neely played Sea Bass, a short-tempered truck driver who is enraged by the main characters' antics.

His couple of appearances in the movie were very memorable. Whether it was confronting the boys in the diner or his "odd" behavior at a gas station bathroom, Neely definitely made one of the best athlete cameos ever.

1. Bob Uecker in Major League

The best appearance in a movie by a sports figure has to be Bob Uecker in Major League. Uecker's commentary is pure gold, as he is sarcastic and straight forward. 

Without Uecker, I feel that the movie would have just been decent. Instead, his inclusion was a huge addition to the movie.